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A while back, a fellow Trinbagonian blogger posted something that really made me stop and think. Slacker, over at Slacker's Chronicles had reworked our National Anthem to reflect his appraisal of the current state of Trinidad and Tobago. I read it over and over and moved on in silence but Slacker's version moved on with me and I couldn't stop returning to it in my mind. Eventually I wrote my own version and I will post both.

I invite others to think about it and to write and submit their own versions via e-mail [guanaguanaresings@gmail.com] and I will include them here. Feel free to submit as Anonymous. If there are "problems", I will just ask you to edit or ask your permission to do the editing myself. I don't think that ancestor Castagne will disapprove. Until we can be upstanding in our daily lives as Trinbagonians, please leave this space during the playing of our beautiful National Anthem which is featured first in today's collection:

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOBy Patrick Castagne

Forged from the love of liberty,In the fires of hope and prayer,With boundless faith in our destinyWe solemnly declare.Side by side we standIslands of the blue Caribbean Sea,This our native landWe pledge our lives to thee.Here every creed and race,Find an equal place,And may God bless our nation.Here every creed and race,Find an equal place,And may God bless our nation.

What do we know of liberty?Paralysed by hope and fearLike slaves to alien destiniesWe want to fly from here.

Shipwrecked, still we standStaring at these Amerindian seasThis won't be OUR landUntil we learn to seeIn every creed and race, the aboriginal faceOf the spirit of this nationHere, by this Trindian place will we be embracedWhen we ALL bless this nation.

--------------------------------------------

AWAITING YOUR REWORKING HERE

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all.Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.Mweh ka allay!

"We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ship.We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."-- The Borg, Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Best of Both Worlds",1990

It is common knowledge now that one of the wheels upon which the African slave trade ran was the treachery of insiders - African brothers who betrayed their own. Come right on up through the history of many African countries to the present and you will see, if you pay attention, that many horrific massacres and deprivations happened while African hands were shaking the hands of outsiders over deals that were lucrative for both parties but often more so for the outsiders.

Before you know it, outsiders have more power over a people's destiny than the people do. Why? Because the insiders who sell us out were NEVER our brothers to begin with.

The Christ was making precisely this point when he answered that question about who he considered to be his family members, "For whoever DOES the will of God, this one is my brother, and my sister and mother." Mark 3:35. He was telling them that for him, brotherhood was not based on shared DNA or shared ethnic characteristics. Those bases for brotherhood are actually racist/ethnocentric but this is how many of us proceed without questioning.

How many times early on in my travels did I, in my homesickness, make the mistake of looking at the colour of a person's skin and immediately feeling warmer towards that person when the colour resembled that of the majority of my Trinbagonian people. Luckily, with experience and attentiveness came understanding. Skin colour means nothing in the end, I have come to realise. "Race" is a convenient lie. A brother is as a brother does.

Once, there was an elderly man, a complete stranger, who looked nothing like me, who recognised a fellow human being in danger and grabbed my arm from behind just in time. He held on to me with a vise-like grip after I'd tripped and he did not let go for moments while I continued swaying, arms made useless by my not relinquishing a bulky parcel and quite unable to steady myself for what seemed like an eternity at the top of a long and very steep escalator. When I finally regained my balance and he cautiously released his hold on me, I turned to him, shaken and on the brink of tears and thanked him over and over. At that point in time, he was the only brother that I had in all the world. Had it not been for his intervention I would have plunged headlong down this escalator. I was convinced that he had saved my life.

Over the years, I have looked at my own country and found ample proof to confirm that there is a direct correlation between what we allow others to do to us and what we are always prepared to do to our own. We do not love ourselves or consider ourselves worthy so the door is wide open to all comers. That is why outsiders continue to peel us open like a sardine can and you'd better believe that some of our own brothers are bowing and grinning and showing them the best techniques for accomplishing the task. No outside corporation/country/influence gains a exploitative foothold here without the nod of insiders, these traitors whose palms are well greased to ensure that we are primed.

Internal imperialism is accomplished by those who are secure in the knowledge that we are creatures of habit more than intelligence. They know that we will postpone thought/discussion/collaborative efforts to seek the comfort of mind-numbing pursuits. They know that participation is most attractive if it involves dissipation. They know that we have the attention span of nits. They only need to know our weaknesses because we have never displayed our strengths.

I have never "played Mas" so that must be the reason for my not understanding why we cannot for just one year, walk away from it as a sign of respect. Does it mean nothing to us that we will be slipping and sliding in the blood of our fellow Trinbagonians as we wuk it up around town? And ladies, when you have donned your flimsy but expensive costumes and are standing with your backs to your mirrors, glancing over your shoulders and well pleased with the way those thongs disappear into your cracks and fondly noting how the strands of shiny beads roll teasingly across your buttocks, will it cross your minds, if only for a nanosecond, that hundreds of your fellow Trinbagonians who were alive and breathing last Carnival, are now lying in marked and unmarked graves or unburied and unceremoniously decomposing under this year's Carnival sky?

Once in a blue moon, extraordinary manna will fall unprovoked from the sky but the intelligence to know what to do with manna when it comes and more important, the intelligence to know what to do while it does not come and how to maximise the ordinary manna which surrounds us, this intelligence blooms only after generations of sustained and thoughtful cultivation. How does our garden grow?.............................................................................................................................."Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

Obama's inauguration will cost £110 million? This figure was quoted by Paul Thompson at The Mail Online on 14th January 2009. Oh noooooooo, Mister Thompson! I refuse to believe it. Our change seeker, Obama, would never have allowed such ridiculous expenditure. Like The Christ, who I am sure he prays to every night, he would have gladly settled for entering Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey, not so? He must have said to his advisers,

"Lllllooookkk..... WE... are the change that we have been waiting for! Let us see how many of our fellow Americans' homes we can save with this money. Now is the time for Washington to change its way of doing business. We will do it by lottery so that there will be no accusations of unfair selection but at this time of severe economic crisis, I want this money to go to the people! That they have put their trust in me, is their gift to me. Let this act of charity be my inauguration gift to them."

I just know that that is what he would have said. I think that they've been keeping him in the dark, these people around him who are starting already to try to prove that he's just another vain and selfish leader. Bad, bad, bad people!

The Obamamobile: The first official photograph of Obama's new armoured limo, which he will ride in for part of the swearing-in parade, and which can withstand rocket and chemical attacks.

For centuries there was no such conflict. In the 19th century the land of Palestine was inhabited by a multicultural population – approximately 86 percent Muslim, 10 percent Christian, and 4 percent Jewish – living in peace.

ZIONISM

In the late 1800s a group in Europe decided to colonize this land. Known as Zionists, they represented an extremist minority of the Jewish population. Their goal was to create a Jewish homeland, and they considered locations in Africa and the Americas, before settling on Palestine.

At first, this immigration created no problems. However, as more and more Zionists immigrated to Palestine – many with the express wish of taking over the land for a Jewish state – the indigenous population became increasingly alarmed. Eventually, fighting broke out, with escalating waves of violence. Hitler's rise to power, combined with Zionist activities to sabotage efforts to place Jewish refugees in western countries, led to increased Jewish immigration to Palestine, and conflict grew.

UN PARTITION PLAN

Finally, in 1947 the United Nations decided to intervene. However, rather than adhering to the principle of “self-determination of peoples,” in which the people themselves create their own state and system of government, the UN chose to revert to the medieval strategy whereby an outside power divides up other people’s land.

Under considerable Zionist pressure, the UN recommended giving away 55% of Palestine to a Jewish state – despite the fact that this group represented only about 30% of the total population, and owned under 7% of the land.

1947-1949 WAR

While it is widely reported that the resulting war eventually included five Arab armies, less well known is the fact that throughout this war Zionist forces outnumbered all Arab and Palestinian combatants combined – often by a factor of two to three. Moreover, Arab armies did not invade Israel – virtually all battles were fought on land that was to have been the Palestinian state.

Finally, it is significant to note that Arab armies entered the conflict only after Zionist forces had committed 16 massacres, including the grisly massacre of over 100 men, women, and children at Deir Yassin. Future Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, head of one of the Jewish terrorist groups, described this as “splendid,” and stated: “As in Deir Yassin, so everywhere, we will attack and smite the enemy. God, God, Thou has chosen us for conquest.” Zionist forces committed 33 massacres altogether.

By the end of the war, Israel had conquered 78 percent of Palestine; three-quarters of a million Palestinians had been made refugees; over 500 towns and villages had been obliterated; and a new map was drawn up, in which every city, river and hillock received a new, Hebrew name, as all vestiges of the Palestinian culture were to be erased. For decades Israel denied the existence of this population, former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir once saying: “There is no such thing as a Palestinian.”

1967 WAR & USS LIBERTY

In 1967, Israel conquered still more land. Following the Six Day War, in which Israeli forces launched a highly successful surprise attack on Egypt, Israel occupied the final 22% of Palestine that had eluded it in 1948 – the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Since, according to international law it is inadmissible to acquire territory by war, these are occupied territories and do not belong to Israel. It also occupied parts of Egypt (since returned) and Syria (which remain under occupation).

Also during the Six Day War, Israel attacked a US Navy ship, the USS Liberty, killing and injuring over 200 American servicemen. President Lyndon Johnson recalled rescue flights, saying that he did not want to "embarrass an ally." (In 2004 a high-level commission chaired by Admiral Thomas Moorer, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, found this attack to be “an act of war against the United States,” a fact few news media have reported.)CURRENT CONFLICT

There are two primary issues at the core of this continuing conflict. First, there is the inevitably destabilizing effect of trying to maintain an ethnically preferential state, particularly when it is largely of foreign origin. The original population of what is now Israel was 96 percent Muslim and Christian, yet, these refugees are prohibited from returning to their homes in the self-described Jewish state (and those within Israel are subjected to systematic discrimination).

Second, Israel's continued military occupation and confiscation of privately owned land in the West Bank, and control over Gaza, are extremely oppressive, with Palestinians having minimal control over their lives. Over 10,000 Palestinian men, women, and children are held in Israeli prisons. Few of them have had a legitimate trial; Physical abuse and torture are frequent. Palestinian borders (even internal ones) are controlled by Israeli forces. Periodically men, women, and children are strip searched; people are beaten; women in labor are prevented from reaching hospitals (at times resulting in death); food and medicine are blocked from entering Gaza, producing an escalating humanitarian crises. Israeli forces invade almost daily, injuring, kidnapping, and sometimes killing inhabitants.

According to the Oslo peace accords of 1993, these territories were supposed to finally become a Palestinian state. However, after years of Israel continuing to confiscate land and conditions steadily worsening, the Palestinian population rebelled. (The Barak offer, widely reputed to be generous, was anything but.) This uprising, called the "Intifada" (Arabic for "shaking off") began at the end of September 2000.

U.S. INVOLVEMENT

Largely due to special-interest lobbying, U.S. taxpayers give Israel an average of $7 million per day, and since its creation have given more U.S. funds to Israel than to any other nation. As Americans learn about how Israel is using our tax dollars, many are calling for an end to this expenditure.

TOLL OF THE CONFLICTIsraelis and Palestinians killed: September 29, 2000 - December 31, 2007

When everything seem to be goneThe worst thing to do is sit down and mournDon't let frustration get the better of youAnd make you do things you should never doYou got to keep the faith, you can't surrenderYou never know, tomorrow may be brighter.

As long as you have health and strengthReaching your goal, nothing should preventEvery time you fall, get up againDon't sit down there like that and complainYou got to stand up and continue fightingDon't give up! Keep courage, you must win...don't you know

Obstacles will get in the wayStumbling blocks to hinder your dayBut you can't afford to let them stop youNo matter how hard it is to go throughYou got to stand up and continue fightingEndurance shall win in the ending...don't you know

Be of a strong positive mindNegative thoughts, leave them behindWe got to go forward in sure certaintyLet no element humbug that possibilityBut if you give up, you have no way of kowingIf next day would have brought good tidings...don't you know

Behind every dark cloud there's a silver liningSo don't give up hope now, we got to keep on trying... oh lordWe got to keep on going... ah haWe got to keep on moving on.Behind every dark cloud there's a silver liningSo don't give up hope now, we got to keep on tryingWe got to keep on goingWe got to keep on moving on.

We know it's a long and winding roadAnd we got a heavy loadBut we have to hold the showGet up, get up and try again because....

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Merchant. I really, really needed this message today. You have helped to lift the enervating pall that's been dragging me down.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

Do a good turn as you go on your wayHelp someone have a brighter dayGive shelter, make a friendYou'll be rewarded handsomely.

And what you doing is reaching out... wohohwohoHelping somebody to liveWhat we doing is reaching out... wohohwohoDon't refuse if you could give.

Ah say, you got to reach out an help somebodyCome on, reach out and help somebodyCome on, come on, come onReach out and help somebodyCome on, reach out and help somebody.

Share with your neighbour if he hasn't gotOne small gesture could mean a lotDon't turn away when you could lend a handTry being a good Samaritan.

And what you doing is reaching out... wohohwohoHelping somebody to live... woyoWhat we doing is reaching out... wohohwohoDon't refuse if you could give.

Ah say, you got to reach out and help somebodyReach out and help somebodyCome on, reach out and help somebodyCome on, Reach out an help somebody.

Clothe the naked and feed the hungry mouthDon't let them go along withoutBe of a good heart and do something nicePass on a brotherly advice...Ey!

And what you doing is reaching out... wohohwohoHelping somebody to live... woyoWhat we doing is reaching out... wohohwohoDon't refuse if you could give.

Ah say, you got to reach out an help somebodyCome on, reach out and help somebodyCome on, come on, come onReach out and help somebodyCome on, reach out an help somebody...Ey!

Live and let live, is what it ought to bePractice some generousityBring out the best in you for Heaven's sakeA little concern is all it takes.

And what you doing is reaching out... wohohwohoHelping somebody to live... woyoWhat we doing is reaching out... wohohwohoDon't refuse if you could give.

Ah say, you got to reach out an help somebodyCome on, reach out and help somebodyDo it now, reach out and help somebodyCome on, reach out an help somebody...Ey!

Source:N.B. The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Merchant. This message in your song is what we need to hear and act upon immediately....if we haven't been doing so all along.

Today, we are facing so many crises on so many fronts.

A reaction could be to allow ourselves to become overwhelmed but your advice is the cure.

A kind act that might seem as insignificant as a small pebble being dropped into a pond can generate ripples beyond our expectations and WILL go on to affect people that you don't even know.

Reach out and help somebody.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

Dear Roi,I think that you will like this song. It was composed by Paul Nabor, the elderly parandero and buyei (spirit medium and healer) who has his Garifuna temple in the coastal town of Punta Gorda in southern Belize. I hope he doesn't mind that I am sharing it. I think that he would have wanted to sing it for you.

TRANSLATIONBrother, I am illDear Brother, I am illI have tossed and turned in my bedWith this ailment in the presence of my familyI have spoken with my childrenDear Brother when I pass awayThey must have a band at my funeralIt is my little ones I'm worried about.

Roi, as always, you will make your trails happy ones!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all.Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.Mweh ka allay!

so though i didn’t relish the mountain-dew
when laced with scorpion an’ centipede
nor tasted the cayman
singh did cook for me
i did enjoy the cascadura
and yes I wish in Trinidad to end my days
if i may

best village competition
tapia yard in st augustine
hosay nor ramleela
wont be banned, if i have my way

Refrain

staring at island homes
nelson, carrera
an chacacahacare
in this way..
pepper sauce on the highway
soft coconut water round the queen's park savannah
hot doubles in san juan
traffic in the croissee

Refrain

mincing fresh chive from sant d’eau
black mud in moruga, parang in
santa cruz or lopinot
divali in palo seco,
a lime in the north stand
for panorama, breadfruit oil-down
with saltfish in diego..
a curry cookup at caura or camelita

Refrain

steel drums hammered in point a pierre
downtown carnival parade
bottle ‘n spoon in snake valley, laventille
elderly indian women in
carapichima secretly teaching
a bride how to wine

Refrain

politicians exposed in the mirror
muslim brothers guarding their border
liming on harris promenade
a dip in blue-basin or
la brea sulphur springs
me pelting mangoes in the mang…
shark n bake down chagville
a rude male breeze in
the middle of town, blowing up
sandra’s pretty dress

­-----------------------
Brother, I am ill
Dear Brother, I am ill
I have tossed and turned in my bed
With this ailment in the presence of my family
I have spoken with my children
Dear Brother when I pass away
They must have a band at my funeral
It is my little ones I'm worried about
It is my children I'm worried about.

What is good and what is bad?
The answer for this rather hard
A beautiful soul in the human race
Trapped in a body with an ugly face
That is bad! Me say, "Bad!", me say "Bad...bad!"
The beautiful ladies will pass him straight
Busy, busy, busy like they running late
They don't want to talk to this ugly beast
But that brother in the body is a hidden priest
That is bad. Me say, "Bad!", me say "Bad...bad!"
Yea, that is bad! Me say, "Bad!", me say, "Bad...bad!"

The heart can feel what the eyes can see
But the eyes don't see what the heart conceal
It's easy to fall for a nice skin teeth
But all skin teeth ent no laughing teeth
Yea, dat is bat, dat is bad, dat is bad!

[Bad]

What is good and what is bad?
The answer for this rather hard
To be living in a body that don't look too right
Is like living in a world where there is only night
That is bad! Me say, "Bad!", me say, "Bad...bad!"
Nobody want to see you for who you are
They blaming you for ugly and they staying far
They act as though you ugly up yourself for spite
Some people in this world they ent thinking right
That is bad! Me say, "Bad!", me say, "Bad...bad!"
Yea, that is bad! Me say, "Bad!", me say, "Bad...bad!"

The heart can feel what the eyes can see
But the eyes don't see what the heart conceal
It's easy to fall for a nice skin teeth
But all skin teeth ent no laughing teeth
Yea, dat is bad, dat is bad, dat is bad!
Dat is bad! [Me say, me say, me say, "Bad!"]
Dat is bad, dat is bad, dat is bad!
Dat is bad! [Me say, me say, me say, "Bad!"]

What is good and what is bad?
The answer for this rather hard
Some people really suffer for the way they look
Most people watch the cover, they don't read the book
That is bad! Me say, "Bad!", me say, "Bad...bad!"
In places of employment your chances slim
It's really hard to compete with the good-looking
You looking strong and healthy and your papers fine
You first in the line but you last in mind
That is bad! Me say, "Bad!", me say, "Bad...bad!"
That is bad! Me say, "Bad!", me say, "Bad...bad!"

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!

.............................................................................................A Note From The Gull

Thank you for your wisdom, Shadow. Look out for Shadow's 2009 release of the CD "Ecstasy"

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

"Stoop to conquer" could never be all rightIf you really want to conquer, you've got to learn to fightStooping in a corner, like little Jack HornerSucking up your finger, you waiting to conquerThey had mih grandfather waitingFor those good things that comes to those who waitBut he wind up in a coffin, poor like a church ratHe found out too late.

William Shakespeare say, "Who steal my purse, steal trash."But the Shadow say, "That thief was looking for some cash."So much trash bags on the pavementIf you really want to steal, you don't need any consentJust pull up with your wheelsIf I catch you inside my pocket looking for trash inside my walletRun away from there! Danger could be near.My name is not Shakespeare

"The truth shall set you free." So the saying goesIt's so far from reality, only Heaven knowsYou telling a police man you cut off a man handYou toss it in the canal, he never had a funeralAnd then you expect the truth to save youBut the jury don't know it soYou are going to be free after custody,When you are ninety-three.

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Shadow. I think that you are a national treasure.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

The reason why you can't get no foodstuff to buy, the Minister say
No more foreign exchange
We cannot afford to import goods from abroad, no money to pay
No more foreign exchange
All the money in the Treasury done
Nobody ent know wey you spend it on
But money went out for everything except for what people really need
Priorities really mixed up indeed.

Sugar and flour [No money for dat]
Split peas and butter [No money for dat]
Oil and vinegar [No money for dat]
A million that they could throw way at ISCOTT [Money dey for dat]

The royalties from the petroleum industries dwindling awayI pa fini l'argent
So is six percent we offer dem civil servants, is all we could payBeta, paisa na gaa
Presently we need more money than Dumas
That's why we go raise on your income tax
We have the Hall of Justice and the Financial Complex we building for you
Don't forget to pay Inland Revenue.

Medicare attention [No money for dat]
And old age pension [No money for dat]
School feeding programme [No money for dat]
Sodeteg, Higgs and Hill and Wimpey [Money dey for dat]

[The money done. No money. The money done. No money]

The DEWD workers now have to be digging horrors, you cut down their pay
Pressure without warning
And when the country depended on the lil subsidy, you took it away
Oh lord, people bawling
Electricity, phones and water rate
Gone so high, poor people straining to pay
Then the hospital is no better although you impose a health surcharge
Casualty like PTSC garage.

Nurses and doctor [No money for dat]
Street lights and water [No money for dat]
Houses for the poor [No money for dat]
Two hundred million for horse in the country [Money dey for dat]

Your ------- and your household appliances cannot be replaced
No fuss, buy spare parts
I hear the latest news is for Christmas we own local foods we go get to taste
-------------- Old Oak and Vat
Still with all ah that the money is strong
The only thing is that you spending it wrong
Wastage is evidently displayed on land, in the sea and air
We complaining but nobody ent care.

To help agriculture [No money for dat]
And airport run proper [No money for dat]
A deep water harbour [No money for dat]
But to pay Immigration to deport Grenadians [Money dey for dat]

[The money done. No money. The money done. No money...]

Source:The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Mighty Sparrow!

Such is the insidious witchery of our music. The Mighty Sparrow saw nothing incongruous in discussing matters of grave import to a beat that is so sweet, so deliciously infectious that it can, with its little finger, raise your troubled self smiling to your dancing feet.

The year is 1985 and I believe that the complaint has not lost its relevance. He complains of mixed-up priorities and I agree though I don't think that the problem is unique to Trinbago, as all over the world access to money or credit has encouraged cultivating unsustainable lifestyles and economies. Even if we think that we have an unlimited supply of money, we still need to focus on the things that in a crisis, money would not be able to buy in the short term. These include, among many others, the following:

- a well supported, highly valued and defended food production system with crops always awaiting harvest and an initiative to make tree crops, for example, freely available to citizens via subsidised plantings on remote and urban state lands. In Trinbago, we are blessed to have growing conditions that favour the growth of a wide variety of food crops.

- a population with realistic/sensible expectations and approach to life - a culture of respect for the environment

- a culture of reverence for life and especially the lives that are most vulnerable - a well supported, highly valued and defended health system with a holistic approach to the maintenance and restoration of good health

- a well supported, highly valued and defended system of arts and crafts promotion and support - a completely reconsidered approach to educating our children and their educators

- a peacekeeping/civil order service with more demanding/sophisticated recruitment requirements and enhanced remuneration scheme that will eventually supplant the existing system of policing

- an emergency response service that can be deployed internally as well as to other countries requiring aid and a system of warehousing emergency supplies including food, water, medical and temporary shelter supplies

- an efficient mass transit system that will reduce the need for private transport and all the serious complications for human health and safety and the environment arising from the number of vehicles now on the roads.

- an intelligence and feedback processing service that actively monitors how the various sectors are being managed, that solicits and welcomes feedback from managers and citizens on all problems being encountered. This service also functions as a referral centre, directing complaints/suggestions to the relevant managers and always with the documentation to provide evidence that managers were informed and were well aware of problems in their jurisdictions.

Have you noticed that most of these do not involve the erection of ostentatious structures but are more about realising our potential by developing minds and attitudes? I can think of many more but if you have additional ideas, why not add them in your comments?

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

Mother of our first born King conceived her first offspring
Gave birth in Holy Land to this giant of a man
This is how she played her part by giving us a start
History books will all now show how much to her we owe.

Chorus:
Ay, Ay, Maria! Ay, Ay, Maria!
Sing Hosanna for our King in the highest, let us sing
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria! He is our Saviour
Let's anoint His head with oil and serenade our first born boy.

With some frankincense and myrrh, the Wise Men went to her
Then departed their own way, avoiding Herod, as they say
Then Mary flee the land to Egypt, child in hand
Avoiding Herod all the way, who destroyed children as they play.

Chorus:
Ay, Ay, Maria! Ay, Ay, Maria!
Sing Hosanna for our King in the highest, let us sing
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria! He is our Saviour
Let's anoint His head with oil and serenade our first born boy.

Now this story goes to show the hardship mothers undergo
By preserving her first born, her light she also shone
Even to the very end, a mother's love she lend
And now all is said and done, gave her only begotten son

Chorus:
Ay, Ay, Maria! Ay, Ay, Maria!
Sing Hosanna for our King in the highest, let us sing
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria! He is our Saviour
Let's anoint His head with oil and serenade our first born boy.

Spoken words:
Yeah, don't forget! It's very important. No matter what you do in this world, you got to remember the first born boy. In this time, more than ever, we should give praises and thanks to the man, most high. Oh yeah!

Chorus:
Ay, Ay, Maria! Ay, Ay, Maria!
Sing Hosanna for our King in the highest, let us sing
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria! He is our Saviour
Let's anoint His head with oil and serenade our first born boy.

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!

.............................................................................................A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Singing Francine! I can listen to and sing her compositions about this event with a happy heart. I am posting this song today on the last official day of Christmas. Of course, for believers in the teachings of the Christ, there aren't just twelve days of Christmas but twelve months and there is no official end to love. In the Roman Catholic calendar, today is the feast of the Epiphany, when the Wise Men finally arrived at the manger to pay homage to the child. My gung ho Wise Men have been jostling reverently outside my creche since November last year so they must have arrived by turbo camel.

I don't fuss too much about dates and when the Christ was actually born and who or what Mary actually represents or has been used to represent, or if the Christ was her only child. I don't care if she was with or without sin. Singing Francine says:

"Now this story goes to show the hardship mothers undergoBy preserving her first born, her light she also shoneEven to the very end, a mother's love she lendAnd now all is said and done, gave her only begotten son."

This is what Mary represents for me. I love my own Mama with all my heart and even when she'd try to make me have a more realistic appraisal of her worth by telling me that she was also a sinner like everyone else, it did not matter to me because she had never shown ME anything but love. So, Mary for me, represents my mother and my grandmothers and all the mothers in the world who gave and continue to give life and love to their families. Thank you.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

All nations try to make the best of what they've gotTo make a livingAll nations try to keep their head above waterOnly to keep existingWhile they can't protect their own bordersSome have to sell their soulsYou see that might is right and strength is powerThat's what "The Man" sayBut how can we as small nations be expected to go on this way?

With these set of warmongers keep satisfying their war hungerFor one reason or another, they messing up the worldThese set of warmongers only fulfilling their war hungerAnd they feel it makes them strongerThey messing up the worldSelah, selah, selah.....

United only among themselves, there is an exclusion,An exclusion of small nationsWho only have a voice to say, "Yes"To their whims, their fancies and their notionsWhile a once proud people now live in cavesAnd are forced to fight against the mightyWho make rules but don't abide by themWhat a shame, what a shame, what a pity!With the wave of a pen an elected leader ----Yet they boast and they toast of democracy.

Warmongers, only fulfilling their war hungerAnd they feel it makes them stronger, they messing up the worldThese set of warmongers and they not making anything betterAll they doing is causing disastersAnd they messing up the worldSelah, selah, selah.....

Ah these warmongers, only fulfilling their war hungerAnd they not making anything better...no, no, no!They messing up the worldThese set of warmongers only satisfying their war hungerAnd they not making things betterThey messing up the worldSelah, selah, selah.....

Source:N.B. The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Final Solution For Palestine?

Translated into today's general language the Hebrew word "Selah" means: think about it. In this song, Gypsy is asking us to reflect upon the folly of war. "Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

Oh Mr. World, have pity on poor manTry and behold his life of frustrationGet to understand, "A hungry man is an angry man."Social revolution is the only solutionFor this civilization.

Who helpless exist under duressIn the fight for wealth and successThe jobless in utter distressIn a world like this, there is no forgivenessMostly greediness, selfishness, injustice and craziness.

Oh Mr. World, have pity on poor manTry and behold his life of frustrationGet to understand, "A hungry man is an angry man."Social revolution is the only solutionFor this civilization.

Detainment, unlawful arraignmentArgument and disagreement, accident and disappointmentCrime and punishment, violent excitementSums up discontentmentDetriment to guilty and innocent.

Oh Mr. World, have mercy on poor manTry and behold his tears of frustrationGet to understand, "A hungry man is an angry man."Social reconstruction is the only salvationFor the new generation.

Source:N.B. The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Natasha.

I find Natasha's "Oh, Mr. World" so relevant...a plea for sanity.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

I could remember long time agoPeople used to flock Trinbago for soPeople come from all over the worldThey invaded here, say we have black goldAnd pass small, small money and get citizenship easy,Get work, big, big work, seats in parliament and allFix up their business, because we facing little crisisThey running, see them runningBut I want to tell them something...

Sweet, sweet T&T is the sweetest place to be right now...can't you see?Sweet, sweet T&T is the sweetest place for we right nowI never hear a storm pass and leave us hungryI never hear weather get too cold for weSweet, sweet T&T, oh yes man, is the place to be

Trinbago, the promised land of my birthThey say we don't have money, I sure we have worthThings are not the way things used to beLet us all not cry down our country...I'll tell you whyWe are still fortunate to have ----- valuable stateWith steelband, calypso, we even have a pitch lake alsoSo doh dig nothing man, the table is turning andYou know, I know, there is no place like Trinbago.

Man is weet, sweet T&T is the sweetest place to be right nowSweet, sweet T&T is the sweetest place for we right nowI never hear a storm pass and leave us hungryI never hear the weather get too cold for we...no time!Sweet, sweet T&T is the place to be

I love my country, I love it badI'll do anything to help Trinidad and TobagoYes, the time is hard but still it not bad...no, no!Or you could plant a garden in your backyardAll yuh could plant up some ochro, dasheen and tomatoReal tannia, cassava, plant ah head a yam brotherTry a little fishing, go and do some huntingLook, you know, I know, we have a living in Trinbago...saying

Sweet, sweet T&T is the sweetest place to be right now...can't you seeSweet, sweet T&T is the sweetest place for we right nowWhat we facing is a worldwide crisisAnd anywhere you run to go is the same crisis...yes man!Sweet, sweet T&T is the place to be.

Source:N.B. The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Iwer Geroge.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

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Lord, Please walk beside me through this day. Clear the heavy air with the lightness of Your Presence. Guide my hands and steady my heart that I may give comfort when I cannot give hope, that I may give relief when I do not have a cure, and that I may radiate Your healing peace when the limits of science, time, and the human body overwhelm us all.Amen